Magee's Recovery Period

"Finally, I'm happy you've woken up." George shrugged his shoulder and overawed by her smiles on him.

She'd slept almost whole day and woke up just at twilight.

"George...I want to eat...porridge." She whispered.

" Yes, this seems to be a great news, but this bowl's not fresh anymore, I'll cook for another one. You wait here."

But her resistance plumbed him. "No...don't leave." She's teary eyed, grasped his camiso and pulled him back.

" Don't worry, sure. We'll have it. Albrecht! Albrecht!"George called out.

In a second Albrecht arrived and blankly stood up - asking.

"Please make us some porridge, your bestfriend is asking."

" I see, sure. Good that the ugly girl had risen." Then he smiled.

When Albrecht left, George sat down because she still grasped his camiso and her hand ascended to his hand and put it on her forehead. Then there was silence.

"It hurts...George, my breathing is limited. Don't leave me." She was still teary eyed.

" You have some meds to drink after meal. I'll give you another shot of antibiotic too and sorry Mag, I wasn't around when it happened. It hurts me seeing you suffer this way.

She touched his head and sobbed.

" Yes, no worries. Sorry that I also shouted this morning. I was so upset when you were so doubtful when I said I closed my eyes and see nothing. But I understand."

" I'm sorry too. I won't do that anymore...if it upsets you. I'm just trying...to protect myself."

" Shh...yeah, I got it, shh...let's wait for Albrecht, just relax." He pressed her hand and put it on his face.

"This beautiful hand slapped me this morning so hard and I was kinda blown outside." He naughtily smiled on her.

She silently chuckled and pinched his ear a bit. " The wound is very painful, its biting inside."

" Yeah, I know. The anesthesia we gave you last night wasn't enough."

"We?" who? you're not alone in operating my wound? who were with you?"

"Amado and Albrecht. It wasn't just an easy wound, its wider, so we need to team up in the procedure."

"Hmm..." She sighed and had a deep breath.

Albrecht quickly got back and gave the bowl of porridge to George. When Albrecht left he fed her with porridge and he tasted first the juice given by Amado before he gave it to her.

" Just tell him I drink it...but please get me the same leaves mixed with lemon...and you personally process it for me. Albrecht knew how to make it I guess. Hmm...just boil and when its lightly warm, that's the time you pour the extracted lemon juice, for a mug, just extract 3-4 lemons, the iron will be produced by it already." She smiled.

" Science tells it otherwise." He grinned.

" Boom!"

"Shh...its a roar of cannon elsewhere." George paused for a while. Its just once but he was positive that its never in Tikaban area, its too far.

" Its gone. By the way, can you please get Lolo Sibal's journals for me, I feel like reading them." She smirked.

He took all of the three journals and wiped its dusty surface. By just looking at the cover, he preempted which one is the oldest and the most recent then finally opened the the oldest. But closed it again and said.

" Since its a journal so its a storytelling you better wash up first and refresh before I'll read them for you. I'll carry you there I know Albrecht has his warm water this time."

"Opo." Then she smiled while he fetched her, holding his broad shoulder and he carried her out.

"Ah! This is a mess, someone's coming out in my area. Come, come...hold the water if its already lukewarm for you? ha?"

"Heh! you're very noisy." She splashed him with water and smiled. When she was alone inside the bathroom Albrecht talked to George.

"Brother, Elias told me a while ago that his friends from the barracks and him met again. They said the Japanese needs backup and a lot have also died in Correigor and regrouped their infantries. I don't know if it means reshuffling. But right now, the Japanese base in Tikaban were just around more than 10. What do you think?"

" Hmm...Amado, Alias and Narciso will get those more than 10, two days from now. Inform them I'll meet them tonight at 1800 hrs under the tamarind tree. Let's not tell the injured lady about this. You know what would happen if she'll know. Both of you with Baldur must stay to watchover her. Guard her tight."

"I'm done." She spoke.

George opened the bathroom and slowly picked her out, so they returned in the bedroom. She comfortably felt so relaxed and he carefully put her back on bed.

" Wow! the fairy sits back oh her throne. How does it feel."

" Better." Then she smiled.

" So I'll start reading now."

10 January 1916

" She's young and innocent. I would take all my stride to give her the future she deserves. But Chuck came in, unnoticed, strong, wealthy and pleased her. I was left subjected to lure my thoughts alone for her."

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" Who's Chuck? Do you know him?"

" No. Never heard of that name ever since."

" I see." He smirked.

" Why?"

" Nothing, I just remembered my Dad. His name is Chuck, in short for Charles. Hmm, sounds interesting. It seems there's a woman she fell in love with but this Chuck took her heart. Third party, isn't it?"

" It seems, but please read the next roll of his writing."

" Why you called him Lolo?"

" He said I had a father and he's just my guardian. I thought my father was Ina Lolita's husband. I wonder why he always tease me as "the payment."

"Okay, here's another page."

28 January 1916

" She never knew how much time I spent taking care of her in my heart. It took me idle and restless. Speechless. Then she was looking for him again, how can I bear this. At least Chuck isn"t anymore around, but he might be coming back midyear. This is so frustrating."

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" So meaning, this is his hiding place ever since, he writes here often, this is where he kept his journals, secrets, right? Its a love story. Shall we continue reading?"